New Delhi: The Lok Sabha will host a two-day debate starting at noon today to commemorate 75 years of the Indian Constitution. However, the session’s effectiveness hinges on whether a bitter BJP-Congress conflict, centred on allegations involving Sonia Gandhi-George Soros connections and the Adani indictment in the US, allows smooth proceedings.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to open the debate for the BJP. A lineup of 12-15 speakers from the ruling alliance is expected, including JDS leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Shrikant Shinde (son of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde), former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, and LJP’s Shambhavi Choudhary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conclude the debate on Saturday evening. He will rebut the opposition arguments. This reflects the BJP’s strategy of deploying key leaders to take aim at its adversaries.
BJP to target Congress over Emergency era
The BJP will criticise the Congress over the Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Similar rhetoric was seen during the June parliamentary session, where Modi, after his third-term win, lambasted the Congress for “undermining democratic principles” and turning the nation into a “jail” during the Emergency, NDTV reported quoting sources. The BJP is also expected to address accusations raised during the April-June general elections, where opposition parties, particularly the Congress, claimed the BJP intended to fundamentally alter the Constitution if re-elected.
Adani row focus strains Congress’s ally ties
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition, will spearhead the opposition’s attack. The Congress plans to focus on the Adani controversy, a recurring theme in recent parliamentary disruptions. However, this stance has strained ties with allies like the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, who have criticised the Congress-BJP clashes for hampering governance.
Key opposition speakers include DMK leaders TR Baalu and A Raja and Trinamool MPs Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee. Moitra’s speech is expected due to her expulsion during the previous Lok Sabha session.
The opposition’s overarching narrative is expected to centre on protecting the constitution, complemented by specific issues such as the farmers’ protest and regional violence. Both the BJP and Congress have issued strict attendance directives to their MPs, as the Rajya Sabha is slated to debate the matter next week under Amit Shah’s leadership.
